A digital camera with an auto exposure setting that adjusts the image data captured by the CCD in response to the lighting conditions at image capture; and, an image processor for processing image data from the CCD and storing the processed data; wherein, the image processor is adapted to use information...http://www.google.com/patents/US7714889?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7714889 - Digital camera using exposure information for image processing

A digital camera with an auto exposure setting that adjusts the image data captured by the CCD in response to the lighting conditions at image capture; and,

an image processor for processing image data from the CCD and storing the processed data; wherein,

the image processor is adapted to use information from the auto exposure setting relating to the lighting conditions at image capture when processing the image data from the CCD.

Images(6)

Claims(6)

1. A digital camera for sensing and storing an image, the camera comprising:

an image sensor with a charge coupled device (CCD) for capturing image data relating to a sensed image, and an auto exposure setting for adjusting the image data captured by the CCD in response to the lighting conditions at image capture;

an image processor for processing image data from the CCD and storing the processed data;

a printer for printing the image data processed by the image processor; and

an interface for receiving a cartridge with a roll of media substrate having postcard indicia and memory storing information regarding a length of each rolled postcard having the postcard indicia; wherein,

the image processor is adapted to use information from the auto exposure setting relating to the lighting conditions at image capture and the information regarding the length of each roller postcard read from the cartridge memory when processing the image data from the CCD to produce the processed data for printing by the printer onto the roll of media substrate.

2. A digital camera according to claim 1 wherein the printer has an inkjet printhead for printing the image data processed by the image processor.

3. A digital camera according to claim 2 wherein the cartridge has ink for use by the inkjet printhead.

4. A digital camera according to claim 2 wherein the image processor uses the information from the auto exposure setting to determine a re-mapping of colour data within the image data from the CCD such that the printhead prints an amended image that takes account of the light conditions at image capture.

5. A digital camera according to claim 4 wherein the re-mapping of the colour data produces deeper and richer colours in the amended image when the light conditions at image capture are dim.

6. A digital camera according to claim 4 wherein the re-mapping of the colour data produces brighter and more saturated colours in the amended image when the light conditions at image capture are bright.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation-in Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/112,743 tiled on Jul. 10, 1998, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,727,951.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to digital cameras and in particular, the onboard processing and printing of images captured by the camera.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, digital cameras have become increasingly popular. These cameras normally operate by means of imaging a desired image utilising a charge coupled device (CCD) array and storing the imaged scene on an electronic storage medium for later down loading onto a computer system for subsequent manipulation and printing out. Normally, when utilising a computer system to print out an image, sophisticated software may available to manipulate the image in accordance with requirements.

Unfortunately such systems require significant post processing of a captured image and normally present the image in an orientation to which it was taken, relying on the post processing process to perform any necessary or required modifications of the captured image. Further, much of the environmental information available when the picture was taken is lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide for the utilisation of exposure information in an image specific manner.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a digital camera for sensing and storing an image, the camera comprising:

an image sensor with a charge coupled device (CCD) for capturing image data relating to a sensed image, and an auto exposure setting for adjusting the image data captured by the CCD in response to the lighting conditions at image capture; and,

an image processor for processing image data from the CCD and storing the processed data; wherein,

the image processor is adapted to use information from the auto exposure setting relating to the lighting conditions at image capture when processing the image data from the CCD.

Utilising the auto exposure setting to determine an advantageous re-mapping of colours within the image allows the processor to produce an amended image having colours within an image transformed to account of the auto exposure setting. The processing can comprise re-mapping image colours so they appear deeper and richer when the exposure setting indicates low light conditions and re-mapping image colours to be brighter and more saturated when the auto exposure setting indicates bright light conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a form of print roll ready for purchase by a consumer;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view, partly in section, of an alternative form of a print roll;

FIG. 4 is a left side exploded perspective view of the print roll of FIG. 3; and,

FIG. 5 is a right side exploded perspective view of a single print roll.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiment is preferable implemented through suitable programming of a hand held camera device such as that described in the present applicant's application entitled “A Digital Image Printing Camera with Image Processing Capability”, the content of which is hereby specifically incorporated by cross reference and the details of which, and other related applications are set out in the tables below.

The aforementioned patent specification discloses a camera system, hereinafter known as an “Artcam” type camera, wherein sensed images can be directly printed out by an Artcam portable camera unit. Further, the aforementioned specification discloses means and methods for performing various manipulations on images captured by the camera sensing device leading to the production of various effects in any output image. The manipulations are disclosed to be highly flexible in nature and can be implemented through the insertion into the Artcam of cards having encoded thereon various instructions for the manipulation of images, the cards hereinafter being known as Artcards. The Artcam further has significant onboard processing power by an Artcam Central Processor unit (ACP) which is interconnected to a memory device for the storage of important data and images.

In the preferred embodiment, the Artcam has an auto exposure sensor for determining the light level associated with the captured image. This auto exposure sensor is utilised to process the image in accordance with the set light value so as to enhance portions of the image.

Preferably, the area image sensor includes a means for determining the light conditions when capturing an image. The area image sensor adjusts the dynamic range of values captured by the CCD in accordance with the detected level sensor. The captured image is transferred to the Artcam central processor and stored in the memory store. Intensity information, as determined by the area image sensor, is also forwarded top the ACP. This information is utilised by the Artcam central processor to manipulate the stored image to enhance certain effects.

Turning now to FIG. 1, Artcam 20 is illustrated in which auto exposure setting information 1 is utilised in conjunction with stored image 2 to process the image by utilising ACP 3. The processed image is returned to the memory store 2 for later printing out on printer 4 or printed directly.

A number of processing steps can be undertaken in accordance with the determined light conditions. Where the auto exposure setting 1 indicates that the image was taken in a low light condition, the image pixel colours are selectively re-mapped so as to make the image colours stronger, deeper and richer.

Where the auto exposure information indicates that highlight conditions were present when the image was taken, the image colours can be processed to make them brighter and more saturated. The re-colouring of the image can be undertaken by conversion of the image to a hue-saturation-value (HSV) format and an alteration of pixel values in accordance with requirements. The pixel values can then be output converted to the required output colour format of printing.

Of course, many different re-colouring techniques may be utilised. Preferably, the techniques are clearly illustrated on the pre-requisite Artcard inserted into the reader. Alternatively, the image processing algorithms can be automatically applied and hard-wired into the camera for utilization in certain conditions.

Alternatively, the Artcard inserted could have a number of manipulations applied to the image which are specific to the auto-exposure setting. For example, clip arts containing candles etc could be inserted in a dark image and large suns inserted in bright images.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 5, the Artcam prints the images onto media stored in a replaceable print roll 5. In some preferred embodiments, the operation of the camera device is such that when a series of images is printed on a first surface of the print roll, the corresponding backing surface has a ready made postcard which can be immediately dispatched at the nearest post office box within the jurisdiction. In this way, personalized postcards can be created.

It would be evident that when utilising the postcard system as illustrated FIG. 2 only predetermined image sizes are possible as the synchronization between the backing postcard portion and the front image must be maintained. This can be achieved by utilising the memory portions of the authentication chip stored within the print roll 5 to store details of the length of each postcard backing format sheet. This can be achieved by either having each postcard the same size or by storing each size within the print rolls on-board print chip memory.

In an alternative embodiment, there is provided a modified form of print roll which can be constructed mostly from injection moulded plastic pieces suitably snapped fitted together. The modified form of print roll has a high ink storage capacity in addition to a somewhat simplified construction. The print media onto which the image is to be printed is wrapped around a plastic sleeve former for simplified construction. The ink media reservoir has a series of air vents which are constructed so as to minimise the opportunities for the ink flow out of the air vents. Further, a rubber seal is provided for the ink outlet holes with the rubber seal being pierced on insertion of the print roll into a camera system. Further, the print roll includes a print media ejection slot and the ejection slot includes a surrounding moulded surface which provides and assists in the accurate positioning of the print media ejection slot relative to the printhead within the printing or camera system.

Turning to FIG. 3 there is illustrated a single point roll unit 5 in an assembled form with a partial cutaway showing internal portions of the print roll. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate left and right side exploded perspective views respectively. The print roll 5 is constructed around the internal core portion 6 which contains an internal ink supply. Outside of the core portion 6 is provided a former 7 around which is wrapped a paper or film supply 8. Around the paper supply it is constructed two cover pieces 9, 10 which snap together around the print roll so as to form a covering unit as illustrated in FIG. 3. The bottom cover piece 10 includes a slot 11 through which the output of the print media 12 for interconnection with the camera system.

Two pinch rollers 13, 14 are provided to pinch the paper against a drive pinch roller 15 so they together provide for a decurling of the paper around the roller 15. The decurling acts to negate the strong curl that may be imparted to the paper from being stored in the form of print roll for an extended period of time. The rollers 13, 14 are provided to form a snap fit with end portions of the cover base portion 10 and the roller 15 which includes a cogged end 16 for driving, snap fits into the upper cover piece 9 so as to pinch the paper 12 firmly between.

The cover pieces 9, 10 includes an end protuberance or lip 17. The end lip 17 is provided for accurately alignment of the exit hole of the paper with a corresponding printing heat platen structure within the camera system. In this way, accurate alignment or positioning of the exiting paper relative to an adjacent printhead is provided for full guidance of the paper to the printhead.

It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention as shown in the specific embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive.

The present invention is best utilized in the Artcam device, the details of which are set out in the following paragraphs.

Ink Jet Technologies

The embodiments of the invention use an ink jet printer type device. Of course many different devices could be used. However presently popular ink jet printing technologies are unlikely to be suitable.

The most significant problem with thermal inkjet is power consumption. This is approximately 100 times that required for high speed, and stems from the energy-inefficient means of drop ejection. This involves the rapid boiling of water to produce a vapor bubble which expels the ink. Water has a very high heat capacity, and must be superheated in thermal ink-jet applications. This leads to an efficiency of around 0.02%, from electricity input to drop momentum (and increased surface area) out.

The most significant problem with piezoelectric inkjet is size and cost. Piezoelectric crystals have a very small deflection at reasonable drive voltages, and therefore require a large area for each nozzle. Also, each piezoelectric actuator must be connected to its drive circuit on a separate substrate. This is not a significant problem at the current limit of around 300 nozzles per print head, but is a major impediment to the fabrication of pagewide print heads with 19,200 nozzles.

Ideally, the inkjet technologies used meet the stringent requirements of in-camera digital color printing and other high quality, high speed, low cost printing applications. To meet the requirements of digital photography, new inkjet technologies have been created. The target features include:

low power (less than 10 Watts)

high resolution capability (1,600 dpi or more)

photographic quality output

low manufacturing cost

small size (pagewidth times minimum cross section)

high speed (<2 seconds per page).

All of these features can be met or exceeded by the inkjet systems described below with differing levels of difficulty. 45 different ink-jet technologies have been developed by the Assignee to give a wide range of choices for high volume manufacture. These technologies form part of separate applications assigned to the present Assignee as set out in the table below.

The inkjet designs shown here are suitable for a wide range of digital printing systems, from battery powered one-time use digital cameras, through to desktop and network printers, and through to commercial printing systems

For ease of manufacture using standard process equipment, the print head is designed to be a monolithic 0.5 micron CMOS chip with MEMS post processing. For color photographic applications, the print head is 100 mm long, with a width which depends upon the inkjet type. The smallest print head designed is IJ38, which is 0.35 mm wide, giving a chip area of 35 square mm. The print heads each contain 19,200 nozzles plus data and control circuitry.

Ink is supplied to the back of the print head by injection molded plastic ink channels. The molding requires 50 micron features, which can be created using a lithographically micromachined insert in a standard injection molding tool. Ink flows through holes etched through the wafer to the nozzle chambers fabricated on the front surface of the wafer. The print head is connected to the camera circuitry by tape automated bonding.

CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATIONS

The following table is a guide to cross-referenced patent applications filed concurrently herewith and discussed hereinafter with the reference being utilized in subsequent tables when referring to a particular case:

Reference

Title

6227652

Radiant Plunger Ink Jet Printer

6213588

Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer

6213589

Planar Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet

6231163

Stacked Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer

6247795

Reverse Spring Lever Ink Jet Printer

6394581

Paddle Type Ink Jet Printer

6244691

Permanent Magnet Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer

6257704

Planar Swing Grill Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer

6416168

Pump Action Refill Ink Jet Printer

6220694

Pulsed Magnetic Field Ink Jet Printer

6257705

Two Plate Reverse Firing Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer

6264306

Linear Stepper Actuator Ink Jet Printer

6234610

Gear Driven Shutter Ink Jet Printer

6247793

Tapered Magnetic Pole Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer

6264306

Linear Spring Electromagnetic Grill Ink Jet Printer

6241342

Lorenz Diaphragm Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer

6247792

PTFE Surface Shooting Shuttered Oscillating Pressure

Ink Jet Printer

6264307

Buckle Grip Oscillating Pressure Ink Jet Printer

6254220

Shutter Based Ink Jet Printer

6234611

Curling Calyx Thermoelastic Ink Jet Printer

6302528

Thermal Actuated Ink Jet Printer

6283582

Iris Motion Ink Jet Printer

6239821

Direct Firing Thermal Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printer

6338547

Conductive PTFE Ben Activator Vented Ink Jet Printer

6247796

Magnetostrictive Ink Jet Printer

6557977

Shape Memory Alloy Ink Jet Printer

6390603

Buckle Plate Ink Jet Printer

6362843

Thermal Elastic Rotary Impeller Ink Jet Printer

6293653

Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printer

6312107

Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Using PTFE and Corrugated

Copper Ink Jet Printer

6227653

Bend Actuator Direct Ink Supply Ink Jet Printer

6234609

A High Young's Modulus Thermoelastic Ink Jet Printer

6238040

Thermally actuated slotted chamber wall ink jet printer

6188415

Ink Jet Printer having a thermal actuator comprising an

external coiled spring

6227654

Trough Container Ink Jet Printer

6209989

Dual Chamber Single Vertical Actuator Ink Jet

6247791

Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Fulcrum Actuator Ink Jet

6336710

Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Actuator Ink Jet

6217153

A single bend actuator cupped paddle ink jet printing device

6416167

A thermally actuated ink jet printer having a series of thermal

actuator units

6243113

A thermally actuated ink jet printer including a tapered

heater element

6283581

Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet

6247790

Inverted Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet

6260953

Surface bend actuator vented ink supply ink jet printer

6267469

Coil Acutuated Magnetic Plate Ink Jet Printer

Tables of Drop-on-Demand Ink-Jets

Eleven important characteristics of the fundamental operation of individual inkjet nozzles have been identified. These characteristics are largely orthogonal, and so can be elucidated as an eleven dimensional matrix. Most of the eleven axes of this matrix include entries developed by the present assignee.

The following tables form the axes of an eleven dimensional table of inkjet types.

Actuator mechanism (18 types)

Basic operation mode (7 types)

Auxiliary mechanism (8 types)

Actuator amplification or modification method (17 types)

Actuator motion (19 types)

Nozzle refill method (4 types)

Method of restricting back-flow through inlet (10 types)

Nozzle clearing method (9 types)

Nozzle plate construction (9 types)

Drop ejection direction (5 types)

Ink type (7 types)

The complete eleven dimensional table represented by these axes contains 36.9 billion possible configurations of inkjet nozzle. While not all of the possible combinations result in a viable inkjet technology, many million configurations are viable. It is clearly impractical to elucidate all of the possible configurations. Instead, certain inkjet types have been investigated in detail. These are designated IJ01 to IJ45 above.

Other inkjet configurations can readily be derived from these 45 examples by substituting alternative configurations along one or more of the 11 axes. Most of the IJ01 to IJ45 examples can be made into inkjet print heads with characteristics superior to any currently available ink-jet technology.

Where there are prior art examples known to the inventor, one or more of these examples are listed in the examples column of the tables below. The IJ01 to IJ45 series are also listed in the examples column. In some cases, a printer may be listed more than once in a table, where it shares characteristics with more than one entry.

The information associated with the aforementioned 11 dimensional matrix are set out in the following tables.

ACTUATOR MECHANISM (APPLIED ONLY TO SELECTED INK DROPS)

Actuator

Mechanism

Description

Advantages

Disadvantages

Examples

Thermal

An electrothermal heater

Large force generated

High power

Canon Bubblejet

bubble

heats the ink to above

Simple construction

Ink carrier limited to water

1979 Endo et al

boiling point, transferring

No moving parts

Low efficiency

GB patent

significant heat to the

Fast operation

High temperatures required

2,007,162

aqueous ink. A bubble

Small chip area

High mechanical stress

Xerox heater-in-

nucleates and quickly

required for

Unusual materials required

pit 1990

forms, expelling the ink.

actuator

Large drive transistors

Hawkins et al

The efficiency of the

Cavitation causes actuator

U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,181

process is low, with

failure

Hewlett-Packard

typically less than 0.05%

Kogation reduces bubble

TIJ 1982 Vaught

of the electrical energy

formation

et al U.S. Pat. No.

being transformed into

Large print heads are

4,490,728

kinetic energy of the drop.

difficult to fabricate

Piezoelectric

A piezoelectric crystal

Low power consumption

Very large area required for

Kyser et al U.S. Pat. No.

such as lead lanthanum

Many ink types can be

actuator

3,946,398

zirconate (PZT) is

used

Difficult to integrate with

Zoltan U.S. Pat. No.

electrically activated, and

Fast operation

electronics

3,683,212

either expands, shears, or

High efficiency

High voltage drive

1973 Stemme U.S. Pat.

bends to apply pressure to

transistors required

No. 3,747,120

the ink, ejecting drops.

Full pagewidth print heads

Epson Stylus

impractical due to actuator

Tektronix

size

IJ04

Requires electrical poling in

high field strengths during

manufacture

Electro-strictive

An electric field is used

Low power consumption

Low maximum strain (approx.

Seiko Epson,

to activate

Many ink types can be

0.01%)

Usui et all JP

electrostriction in relaxor

used

Large area required for

253401/96

materials such as lead

Low thermal expansion

actuator due to low strain

IJ04

lanthanum zirconate

Electric field

Response speed is marginal (~10 μs)

titanate (PLZT) or lead

strength required

High voltage drive

magnesium niobate (PMN).

(approx. 3.5 V/μm)

transistors required

can be generated

Full pagewidth print heads

without difficulty

impractical due to actuator

Does not require

size

electrical poling

Ferroelectric

An electric field is used

Low power consumption

Difficult to integrate with

IJ04

to induce a phase

Many ink types can be

electronics

transition between the

used

Unusual materials such as

antiferroelectric (AFE) and

Fast operation (<1 μs)

PLZSnT are required

ferroelectric (FE) phase.

Relatively high

Actuators require a large

Perovskite materials such

longitudinal strain

area

as tin modified lead

High efficiency

lanthanum zirconate

Electric field

titanate (PLZSnT) exhibit

strength of around 3 V/μm

large strains of up to 1%

can be readily

associated with the AFE to

provided

FE phase transition.

Electrostatic

Conductive plates are

Low power consumption

Difficult to operate

IJ02, IJ04

plates

separated by a compressible

Many ink types can be

electrostatic devices in an

or fluid dielectric

used

aqueous environment

(usually air). Upon

Fast operation

The electrostatic actuator

application of a voltage,

will normally need to be

the plates attract each

separated from the ink

other and displace ink,

Very large area required to

causing drop ejection. The

achieve high forces

conductive plates may be in

High voltage drive

a comb or honeycomb

transistors may be required

structure, or stacked to

Full pagewidth print heads

increase the surface area

are not competitive due to

and therefore the force.

actuator size

Electrostatic

A strong electric field is

Low current

High voltage required

1989 Saito et

pull on ink

applied to the ink,

consumption

May be damaged by sparks due

al, U.S. Pat. No.

whereupon electrostatic

Low temperature

to air breakdown

4,799,068

attraction accelerates the

Required field strength

1989 Miura et

ink towards the print

increases as the drop size

al, U.S. Pat. No.

medium.

decreases

4,810,954

High voltage drive

Tone-jet

transistors required

Electrostatic field attracts

dust

Permanent

An electromagnet directly

Low power consumption

Complex fabrication

IJ07, IJ10

magnet

attracts a permanent

Many ink types can be

Permanent magnetic material

electromagnetic

magnet, displacing ink and

used

such as Neodymium Iron Boron

causing drop ejection. Rare

Fast operation

(NdFeB) required.

earth magnets with a field

High efficiency

High local currents required

strength around 1 Tesla can

Easy extension from

Copper metalization should be

be used. Examples are:

single nozzles to

used for long

Samarium Cobalt (SaCo) and

pagewidth print

electromigration lifetime

magnetic materials in the

heads

and low resistivity

neodymium iron boron family

Pigmented inks are usually

(NdFeB, NdDyFeBNb, NdDyFeB,

infeasible

etc)

Operating temperature limited

to the Curie temperature

(around 540 K)

Soft magnetic

A solenoid induced a

Low power consumption

Complex fabrication

IJ01, 1J05,

core electromagnetic

magnetic field in a soft

Many ink types can be

Materials not usually present

IJ08, IJ10

magnetic core or yoke

used

in a CMOS fab such as NiFe,

IJ12, IJ14,

fabricated from a ferrous

Fast operation

CoNiFe, or CoFe are required

IJ15, IJ17

material such as

High efficiency

High local currents required

electroplated iron alloys

Easy extension from

Copper metalization should be

such as CoNiFe [1], CoFe,

single nozzles to

used for long

or NiFe alloys. Typically,

pagewidth print

electromigration lifetime

the soft magnetic material

heads

and low resistivity

is in two parts, which are

Electroplating is required

normally held apart by a

High saturation flux density

spring. When the solenoid

is required (2.0-2.1 T is

is actuated, the two parts

achievable with CoNiFe [1])

attract, displacing the

ink.

Magnetic

The Lorenz force acting on

Low power consumption

Force acts as a twisting

IJ06, IJ11,

Lorenz force

a current carrying wire in

Many ink types can be

motion

IJ13, IJ16

a magnetic field is

used

Typically, only a quarter of

utilized.

Fast operation

the solenoid length provides

This allows the magnetic

High efficiency

force in a useful direction

field to be supplied

Easy extension from

High local currents required

externally to the print

single nozzles to

Copper metalization should be

head, for example with rare

pagewidth print

used for long

earth permanent magnets.

heads

electromigration lifetime

Only the current carrying

and low resistivity

wire need be fabricated on

Pigmented inks are usually

the print-head, simplifying

infeasible

materials requirements.

Magnetostriction

The actuator uses the giant

Many ink types can be

Force acts as a twisting

Fischenbeck, U.S. Pat.

magnetostrictive effect of

used

motion

No. 4,032,929

materials such as Terfenol-

Fast operation

Unusual materials such as

IJ25

D (an alloy of terbium,

Easy extension from

Terfenol-D are required

dysprosium and iron

single nozzles to

High local currents required

developed at the Naval

pagewidth print

Copper metalization should be

Ordnance Laboratory, hence

heads

used for long

Ter-Fe-NOL). For best

High force is

electromigration lifetime

efficiency, the actuator

available

and low resistivity

should be pre-stressed to

Pre-stressing may be required

approx. 8 MPa.

Surface

Ink under positive pressure

Low power consumption

Requires supplementary force

Silverbrook, EP

tension

is held in a nozzle by

Simple construction

to effect drop separation

0771 658 A2 and

reduction

surface tension. The

No unusual materials

Requires special ink

related patent

surface tension of the ink

required in

surfactants

applications

is reduced below the bubble

fabrication

Speed may be limited by

threshold, causing the ink

High efficiency

surfactant properties

to egress from the nozzle.

Easy extension from

single nozzles to

pagewidth print

heads

Viscosity

The ink viscosity is

Simple construction

Requires supplementary force

Silverbrook, EP

reduction

locally reduced to select

No unusual materials

to effect drop separation

0771 658 A2 and

which drops are to be

required in

Requires special ink

related patent

ejected. A viscosity

fabrication

viscosity properties

applications

reduction can be achieved

Easy extension from

High speed is difficult to

electrothermally with most

single nozzles to

achieve

inks, but special inks can

pagewidth print

Requires oscillating ink

be engineered for a 100:1

heads

pressure

viscosity reduction.

A high temperature difference

(typically 80 degrees) is

required

Acoustic

An acoustic wave is

Can operate without a

Complex drive circuitry

1993 Hadimioglu

generated and focussed upon

nozzle plate

Complex fabrication

et al, EUP

the drop ejection region.

Low efficiency

550,192

Poor control of drop position

1993 Elrod et

Poor control of drop volume

al, EUP 572,220

Thermoelastic

An actuator which relies

Low power consumption

Efficient aqueous operation

IJ03, IJ09,

bend actuator

upon differential thermal

Many ink types can be

requires a thermal insulator

IJ17, IJ18

expansion upon Joule

used

on the hot side

IJ19, IJ20,

heating is used.

Simple planar

Corrosion prevention can be

IJ21, IJ22

fabrication

difficult

IJ23, IJ24,

Small chip area

Pigmented inks may be

IJ27, IJ28

required for each

infeasible, as pigment

IJ29, IJ30,

actuator

particles may jam the bend

IJ31, IJ32

Fast operation

actuator

IJ33, IJ34,

High efficiency

IJ35, IJ36

CMOS compatible

IJ37, IJ38,

voltages and

IJ39, IJ40

currents

IJ41

Standard MEMS

processes can be

used

Easy extension from

single nozzles to

pagewidth print

heads

High CTE

A material with a very high

High force can be

Requires special material

IJ09, IJ17,

thermoelastic

coefficient of thermal

generated

(e.g. PTFE)

IJ18, IJ20

actuator

expansion (CTE) such as

PTFE is a candidate

Requires a PTFE deposition

IJ21, IJ22,

polytetrafluoroethylene

for low dielectric

process, which is not yet

IJ23, IJ24

(PTFE) is used. As high CTE

constant insulation

standard in ULSI fabs

IJ27, IJ28,

materials are usually non-

in ULSI

PTFE deposition cannot be

IJ29, IJ30

conductive, a heater

Very low power

followed with high

IJ31, IJ42,

fabricated from a

consumption

temperature (above 350° C.)

IJ43, IJ44

conductive material is

Many ink types can be

processing

incorporated. A 50 μm long

used

Pigmented inks may be

PTFE bend actuator with

Simple planar

infeasible, as pigment

polysilicon heater and 15 mW

fabrication

particles may jam the bend

power input can provide

Small chip area

actuator

180 μN force and 10 μm

required for each

deflection. Actuator

actuator

motions include:

Fast operation

1) Bend

High efficiency

2) Push

CMOS compatible

3) Buckle

voltages and

4) Rotate

currents

Easy extension from

single nozzles to

pagewidth print

heads

Conductive

A polymer with a high

High force can be

Requires special materials

IJ24

polymer

coefficient of thermal

generated

development (High CTE

thermoelastic

expansion (such as PTFE) is

Very low power

conductive polymer)

actuator

doped with conducting

consumption

Requires a PTFE deposition

substances to increase its

Many ink types can be

process, which is not yet

conductivity to about 3

used

standard in ULSI fabs

orders of magnitude below

Simple planar

PTFE deposition cannot be

that of copper. The

fabrication

followed with high

conducting polymer expands

Small chip area

temperature (above 350° C.)

when resistively heated.

required for each

processing

Examples of conducting

actuator

Evaporation and CVD

dopants include:

Fast operation

deposition techniques cannot

1) Carbon nanotubes

High efficiency

be used

2) Metal fibers

CMOS compatible

Pigmented inks may be

3) Conductive polymers such as

voltages and

infeasible, as pigment

doped polythiophene

currents

particles may jam the bend

4) Carbon granules

Easy extension from

actuator

single nozzles to

pagewidth print

heads

Shape memory

A shape memory alloy such

High force is

Fatigue limits maximum number

IJ26

alloy

as TiNi (also known as

available (stresses

of cycles

Nitinol - Nickel Titanium

of hundreds of MPa)

Low strain (1%) is required

alloy developed at the

Large strain is

to extend fatigue resistance

Naval Ordnance Laboratory)

available (more than

Cycle rate limited by heat

is thermally switched

3%)

removal

between its weak

High corrosion

Requires unusual materials

martensitic state and its

resistance

(TiNi)

high stiffness austenic

Simple construction

The latent heat of

state. The shape of the

Easy extension from

transformation must be

actuator in its martensitic

single nozzles to

provided

state is deformed relative

pagewidth print

High current operation

to the austenic shape. The

heads

Requires pre-stressing to

shape change causes

Low voltage operation

distort the martensitic

ejection of a drop.

state

Linear

Linear magnetic actuators

Linear Magnetic

Requires unusual

IJ12

Magnetic

include the Linear

actuators can be

semiconductor materials such

Actuator

Induction Actuator (LIA),

constructed with

as soft magnetic alloys

Linear Permanent Magnet

high thrust, long

(e.g. CoNiFe [1])

Synchronous Actuator

travel, and high

Some varieties also require

(LPMSA), Linear Reluctance

efficiency using

permanent magnetic materials

Synchronous Actuator

planar semiconductor

such as Neodymium iron boron

(LRSA), Linear Switched

fabrication

(NdFeB)

Reluctance Actuator (LSRA),

techniques

Requires complex multi-phase

and the Linear Stepper

Long actuator travel

drive circuitry

Actuator (LSA).

is available

High current operation

Medium force is

available

Low voltage operation

BASIC OPERATION MODE

Operational

mode

Description

Advantages

Disadvantages

Examples

Actuator

This is the simplest mode

Simple operation

Drop repetition rate is

Thermal inkjet

directly

of operation: the actuator

No external fields

usually limited to less than

Piezoelectric

pushes ink

directly supplies

required

10 KHz. However, this is not

inkjet

sufficient kinetic energy

Satellite drops can

fundamental to the method,

IJ01, IJ02,

to expel the drop. The drop

be avoided if drop

but is related to the refill

IJ03, IJ04

must have a sufficient

velocity is less

method normally used

IJ05, IJ06,

velocity to overcome the

than 4 m/s

All of the drop kinetic

IJ07, IJ09

surface tension.

Can be efficient,

energy must be provided by

IJ11, IJ12,

depending upon the

the actuator

IJ14, IJ16

actuator used

Satellite drops usually form

IJ20, IJ22,

if drop velocity is greater

IJ23, IJ24

than 4.5 m/s

IJ25, IJ26,

IJ27, IJ28

IJ29, IJ30,

IJ31, IJ32

IJ33, IJ34,

IJ35, IJ36

IJ37, IJ38,

IJ39, IJ40

IJ41, IJ42,

IJ43, IJ44

Proximity

The drops to be printed are

Very simple print

Requires close proximity

Silverbrook, EP

selected by some manner

head fabrication can

between the print head and

0771 658 A2 and

(e.g. thermally induced

be used

the print media or transfer

related patent

surface tension reduction

The drop selection

roller

applications

of pressurized ink).

means does not need

May require two print heads

Selected drops are

to provide the

printing alternate rows of

separated from the ink in

energy required to

the image

the nozzle by contact with

separate the drop

Monolithic color print heads

the print medium or a

from the nozzle

are difficult

transfer roller.

Electrostatic

The drops to be printed are

Very simple print

Requires very high

Silverbrook, EP

pull on ink

selected by some manner

head fabrication can

electrostatic field

0771 658 A2 and

(e.g. thermally induced

be used

Electrostatic field for small

related patent

surface tension reduction

The drop selection

nozzle sizes is above air

applications

of pressurized ink).

means does not need

breakdown

Tone-Jet

Selected drops are

to provide the

Electrostatic field may

separated from the ink in

energy required to

attract dust

the nozzle by a strong

separate the drop

electric field.

from the nozzle

Magnetic pull

The drops to be printed are

Very simple print

Requires magnetic ink

Silverbrook, EP

on ink

selected by some manner

head fabrication can

Ink colors other than black

0771 658 A2 and

(e.g. thermally induced

be used

are difficult

related patent

surface tension reduction

The drop selection

Requires very high magnetic

applications

of pressurized ink).

means does not need

fields

Selected drops are

to provide the

separated from the ink in

energy required to

the nozzle by a strong

separate the drop

magnetic field acting on

from the nozzle

the magnetic ink.

Shutter

The actuator moves a

High speed (>50 KHz)

Moving parts are required

IJ13, IJ17, IJ21

shutter to block ink flow

operation can be

Requires ink pressure

to the nozzle. The ink

achieved due to

modulator

pressure is pulsed at a

reduced refill time

Friction and wear must be

multiple of the drop

Drop timing can be

considered

ejection frequency.

very accurate

Stiction is possible

The actuator energy

can be very low

Shuttered

The actuator moves a

Actuators with small

Moving parts are required

IJ08, IJ15,

grill

shutter to block ink flow

travel can be used

Requires ink pressure

IJ18, IJ19

through a grill to the

Actuators with small

modulator

nozzle. The shutter

force can be used

Friction and wear must be

movement need only be equal

High speed (>50 KHz)

considered

to the width of the grill

operation can be

Stiction is possible

holes.

achieved

Pulsed

A pulsed magnetic field

Extremely low energy

Requires an external pulsed

IJ10

magnetic pull

attracts an ‘ink pusher’ at

operation is

magnetic field

on ink pusher

the drop ejection

possible

Requires special materials

frequency. An actuator

No heat dissipation

for both the actuator and

controls a catch, which

problems

the ink pusher

prevents the ink pusher

Complex construction

from moving when a drop is

not to be ejected.

AUXILIARY MECHANISM (APPLIED TO ALL NOZZLES)

Auxiliary

Mechanism

Description

Advantages

Disadvantages

Examples

None

The actuator directly fires

Simplicity of

Drop ejection energy must be

Most inkjets,

the ink drop, and there is

construction

supplied by individual

including

no external field or other

Simplicity of

nozzle actuator

piezoelectric

mechanism required.

operation

and thermal

Small physical size

bubble.

IJ01-IJ07,

IJ09, IJ11

IJ12, IJ14,

IJ20, IJ22

IJ23-IJ45

Oscillating

The ink pressure

Oscillating ink

Requires external ink

Silverbrook, EP

ink pressure

oscillates, providing much

pressure can provide

pressure oscillator

0771 658 A2 and

(including

of the drop ejection

a refill pulse,

Ink pressure phase and

related patent

acoustic

energy. The actuator

allowing higher

amplitude must be carefully

applications

stimulation)

selects which drops are to

operating speed

controlled

IJ08, IJ13,

be fired by selectively

The actuators may

Acoustic reflections in the

IJ15, IJ17

blocking or enabling

operate with much

ink chamber must be designed

IJ18, IJ19, IJ21

nozzles. The ink pressure

lower energy

for

oscillation may be achieved

Acoustic lenses can

by vibrating the print

be used to focus the

head, or preferably by an

sound on the nozzles

actuator in the ink supply.

Media

The print head is placed in

Low power

Precision assembly required

Silverbrook, EP

proximity

close proximity to the

High accuracy

Paper fibers may cause

0771 658 A2 and

print medium. Selected

Simple print head

problems

related patent

drops protrude from the

construction

Cannot print on rough

applications

print head further than

substrates

unselected drops, and

contact the print medium.

The drop soaks into the

medium fast enough to cause

drop separation.

Transfer

Drops are printed to a

High accuracy

Bulky

Silverbrook, EP

roller

transfer roller instead of

Wide range of print

Expensive

0771 658 A2 and

straight to the print

substrates can be

Complex construction

related patent

medium. A transfer roller

used

applications

can also be used for

Ink can be dried on

Tektronix hot

proximity drop separation.

the transfer roller

melt

piezoelectric

inkjet

Any of the IJ

series

Electrostatic

An electric field is used

Low power

Field strength required for

Silverbrook, EP

to accelerate selected

Simple print head

separation of small drops is

0771 658 A2 and

drops towards the print

construction

near or above air breakdown

related patent

medium.

applications

Tone-Jet

Direct

A magnetic field is used to

Low power

Requires magnetic ink

Silverbrook, EP

magnetic

accelerate selected drops

Simple print head

Requires strong magnetic

0771 658 A2 and

field

of magnetic ink towards the

construction

field

related patent

print medium.

applications

Cross

The print head is placed in

Does not require

Requires external magnet

IJ06, IJ16

magnetic

a constant magnetic field.

magnetic materials

Current densities may be

field

The Lorenz force in a

to be integrated in

high, resulting in

current carrying wire is

the print head

electromigration problems

used to move the actuator.

manufacturing

process

Pulsed

A pulsed magnetic field is

Very low power

Complex print head

IJ10

magnetic

used to cyclically attract

operation is

construction

field

a paddle, which pushes on

possible

Magnetic materials required

the ink. A small actuator

Small print head size

in print head

moves a catch, which

selectively prevents the

paddle from moving.

ACTUATOR AMPLIFICATION OR MODIFICATION METHOD

Actuator

amplification

Description

Advantages

Disadvantages

Examples

None

No actuator mechanical

Operational

Many actuator mechanisms have

Thermal Bubble

amplification is used. The

simplicity

insufficient travel, or

Inkjet

actuator directly drives

insufficient force, to

IJ01, IJ02,

the drop ejection process.

efficiently drive the drop

IJ06, IJ07

ejection process

IJ16, IJ25, IJ26

Differential

An actuator material

Provides greater

High stresses are involved

Piezoelectric

expansion

expands more on one side

travel in a reduced

Care must be taken that the

IJ03, IJ09,

bend actuator

than on the other. The

print heat area

materials do not delaminate

IJ17-IJ24

expansion may be thermal,

The bend actuator

Residual bend resulting from

IJ27, IJ29-IJ39,

piezoelectric,

converts a high

high temperature or high

IJ42,

magnetostrictive, or other

force low travel

stress during formation

IJ43, IJ44

mechanism.

actuator mechanism

to high travel,

lower force

mechanism.

Transient

A trilayer bend actuator

Very good temperature

High stresses are involved

IJ40, IJ41

bend actuator

where the two outside

stability

Care must be taken that the

layers are identical. This

High speed, as a new

materials do not delaminate

cancels bend due to ambient

drop can be fired

temperature and residual

before heat

stress. The actuator only

dissipates

responds to transient

Cancels residual

heating of one side or the

stress of formation

other.

Actuator

A series of thin actuators

Increased travel

Increased fabrication

Some

stack

are stacked. This can be

Reduced drive voltage

complexity

piezoelectric

appropriate where actuators

Increased possibility of

ink jets

require high electric field

short circuits due to

IJ04

strength, such as

pinholes

electrostatic and

piezoelectric actuators.

Multiple

Multiple smaller actuators

Increases the force

Actuator forces may not add

IJ12, IJ13,

actuators

are used simultaneously to

available from an

linearly, reducing

IJ18, IJ20

move the ink. Each actuator

actuator

efficiency

IJ22, IJ28

need provide only a portion

Multiple actuators

IJ42, IJ43

of the force required.

can be positioned to

control ink flow

accurately

Linear Spring

A linear spring is used to

Matches low travel

Requires print head area for

IJ15

transform a motion with

actuator with higher

the spring

small travel and high force

travel requirements

into a longer travel, lower

Non-contact method of

force motion.

motion

transformation

Reverse

The actuator loads a

Better coupling to

Fabrication complexity

IJ05, IJ11

spring

spring. When the actuator

the ink

High stress in the spring

is turned off, the spring

releases. This can reverse

the force/distance curve of

the actuator to make it

compatible with the

force/time requirements of

the drop ejection.

Coiled

A bend actuator is coiled

Increases travel

Generally restricted to

IJ17, IJ21,

actuator

to provide greater travel

Reduces chip area

planar implementations due

IJ34, IJ35

in a reduced chip area.

Planar

to extreme fabrication

implementations are

difficulty in other

relatively easy to

orientations.

fabricate.

Flexure bend

A bend actuator has a small

Simple means of

Care must be taken not to

IJ10, IJ19, IJ33

actuator

region near the fixture

increasing travel of

exceed the elastic limit in

point, which flexes much

a bend actuator

the flexure area

more readily than the

Stress distribution is very

remainder of the actuator.

uneven

The actuator flexing is

Difficult to accurately model

effectively converted from

with finite element analysis

an even coiling to an

angular bend, resulting in

greater travel of the

actuator tip.

Gears

Gears can be used to

Low force, low travel

Moving parts are required

IJ13

increase travel at the

actuators can be

Several actuator cycles are

expense of duration.

used

required

Circular gears, rack and

Can be fabricated

More complex drive

pinion, ratchets, and other

using standard

electronics

gearing methods can be

surface MEMS

Complex construction

used.

processes

Friction, friction, and wear

are possible

Catch

The actuator controls a

Very low actuator

Complex construction

IJ10

small catch. The catch

energy

Requires external force

either enables or disables

Very small actuator

Unsuitable for pigmented inks

movement of an ink pusher

size

that is controlled in a

bulk manner.

Buckle plate

A buckle plate can be used

Very fast movement

Must stay within elastic

S. Hirata et al,

to change a slow actuator

achievable

limits of the materials for

“An Ink-jet

into a fast motion. It can

long device life

Head . . . ”, Proc.

also convert a high force,

High stresses involved

IEEE MEMS, Feb.

low travel actuator into a

Generally high power

1996, pp 418-423.

high travel, medium force

requirement

IJ18, IJ27

motion.

Tapered

A tapered magnetic pole can

Linearizes the

Complex construction

IJ14

magnetic pole

increase travel at the

magnetic

expense of force.

force/distance curve

Lever

A lever and fulcrum is used

Matches low travel

High stress around the

IJ32, IJ36, IJ37

to transform a motion with

actuator with higher

fulcrum

small travel and high force

travel requirements

into a motion with longer

Fulcrum area has no

travel and lower force. The

linear movement, and

lever can also reverse the

can be used for a

direction of travel.

fluid seal

Rotary

The actuator is connected

High mechanical

Complex construction

IJ28

impeller

to a rotary impeller. A

advantage

Unsuitable for pigmented inks

small angular deflection of

The ratio of force to

the actuator results in a

travel of the

rotation of the impeller

actuator can be

vanes, which push the ink

matched to the

against stationary vanes

nozzle requirements

and out of the nozzle.

by varying the

number of impeller

vanes

Acoustic lens

A refractive or diffractive

No moving parts

Large area required

1993 Hadimioglu

(e.g. zone plate) acoustic

Only relevant for acoustic

et al, EUP

lens is used to concentrate

ink jets

550, 192

sound waves.

1993 Elrod et

al, EUP 572,220

Sharp

A sharp point is used to

Simple construction

Difficult to fabricate using

Tone-jet

conductive

concentrate an

standard VLSI processes for

point

electrostatic field.

a surface ejecting ink-jet

Only relevant for

electrostatic ink jets

ACTUATOR MOTION

Actuator

motion

Description

Advantages

Disadvantages

Examples

Volume

The volume of the actuator

Simple construction

High energy is typically

Hewlett-Packard

expansion

changes, pushing the ink in

in the case of

required to achieve volume

Thermal Inkjet

all directions.

thermal ink jet

expansion. This leads to

Canon Bubblejet

thermal stress, cavitation,

and kogation in thermal ink

jet implementations

Linear,

The actuator moves in a

Efficient coupling to

High fabrication complexity

IJ01, IJ02,

normal to

direction normal to the

ink drops ejected

may be required to achieve

IJ04, IJ07

chip surface

print head surface. The

normal to the

perpendicular motion

IJ11, IJ14

nozzle is typically in the

surface

line of movement.

Linear,

The actuator moves parallel

Suitable for planar

Fabrication complexity

IJ12, IJ13,

parallel to

to the print head surface.

fabrication

Friction

IJ15, IJ33,

chip surface

Drop ejection may still be

Stiction

IJ34, IJ35, IJ36

normal to the surface.

Membrane push

An actuator with a high

The effective area of

Fabrication complexity

1982 Howkins U.S. Pat.

force but small area is

the actuator becomes

Actuator size

No. 4,459,601

used to push a stiff

the membrane area

Difficulty of integration in

membrane that is in contact

a VLSI process

with the ink.

Rotary

The actuator causes the

Rotary levers may be

Device complexity

IJ05, IJ08,

rotation of some element,

used to increase

May have friction at a pivot

IJ13, IJ28

such a grill or impeller

travel

point

Small chip area

requirements

Bend

The actuator bends when

A very small change

Requires the actuator to be

1970 Kyser et al

energized. This may be due

in dimensions can be

made from at least two

U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,398

to differential thermal

converted to a large

distinct layers, or to have

1973 Stemme U.S. Pat.

expansion, piezoelectric

motion.

a thermal difference across

No. 3,747,120

expansion,

the actuator

IJ03, IJ09,

magnetostriction, or other

IJ10, IJ19

form of relative

IJ23, IJ24,

dimensional change.

IJ25, IJ29

IJ30, IJ31,

IJ33, IJ34

IJ35

Swivel

The actuator swivels around

Allows operation

Inefficient coupling to the

IJ06

a central pivot. This

where the net linear

ink motion

motion is suitable where

force on the paddle

there are opposite forces

is zero

applied to opposite sides

Small chip area

of the paddle, e.g. Lorenz

requirements

force.

Straighten

The actuator is normally

Can be used with

Requires careful balance of

IJ26, IJ32

bent, and straightens when

shape memory alloys

stresses to ensure that the

energized.

where the austenic

quiescent bend is accurate

phase is planar

Double bend

The actuator bends in one

One actuator can be

Difficult to make the drops

IJ36, IJ37, IJ38

direction when one element

used to power two

ejected by both bend

is energized, and bends the

nozzles.

directions identical.

other way when another

Reduced chip size.

A small efficiency loss

element is energized.

Not sensitive to

compared to equivalent

ambient temperature

single bend actuators.

Shear

Energizing the actuator

Can increase the

Not readily applicable to

1985 Fishbeck

causes a shear motion in

effective travel of

other actuator mechanisms

U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,590

the actuator material.

piezoelectric

actuators

Radial

The actuator squeezes an

Relatively easy to

High force required

1970 Zoltan U.S. Pat.

constriction

ink reservoir, forcing ink

fabricate single

Inefficient

No. 3,683,212

from a constricted nozzle.

nozzles from glass

Difficult to integrate with

tubing as

VLSI processes

macroscopic

structures

Coil/uncoil

A coiled actuator uncoils

Easy to fabricate as

Difficult to fabricate for

IJ17, IJ21,

or coils more tightly. The

a planar VLSI

non-planar devices

IJ34, IJ35

motion of the free end of

process

Poor out-of-plane stiffness

the actuator ejects the

Small area required,

ink.

therefore low cost

Bow

The actuator bows (or

Can increase the

Maximum travel is constrained

IJ16, IJ18, IJ27

buckles) in the middle when

speed of travel

High force required

energized.

Mechanically rigid

Push-Pull

Two actuators control a

The structure is

Not readily suitable for

IJ18

shutter. One actuator pulls

pinned at both ends,

inkjets which directly push

the shutter, and the other

so has a high out-

the ink

pushes it.

of-plane rigidity

Curl inwards

A set of actuators curl

Good fluid flow to

Design complexity

IJ20, IJ42

inwards to reduce the

the region behind

volume of ink that they

the actuator

enclose.

increases efficiency

Curl outwards

A set of actuators curl

Relatively simple

Relatively large chip area

IJ43

outwards, pressurizing ink

construction

in a chamber surrounding

the actuators, and

expelling ink from a nozzle

in the chamber.

Iris

Multiple vanes enclose a

High efficiency

High fabrication complexity

IJ22

volume of ink. These

Small chip area

Not suitable for pigmented

simultaneously rotate,

inks

reducing the volume between

the vanes.

Acoustic

The actuator vibrates at a

The actuator can be

Large area required for

1993 Hadimioglu

vibration

high frequency.

physically distant

efficient operation at

et al, EUP

from the ink

useful frequencies

550,192

Acoustic coupling and

1993 Elrod et

crosstalk

al, EUP 572,220

Complex drive circuitry

Poor control of drop volume

and position

None

In various ink jet designs

No moving parts

Various other tradeoffs are

Silverbrook, EP

the actuator does not move.

required to eliminate moving

0771 658 A2 and

parts

related patent

applications

Tone-jet

NOZZLE REFILL METHOD

Nozzle refill

method

Description

Advantages

Disadvantages

Examples

Surface

After the actuator is

Fabrication

Low speed

Thermal inkjet

tension

energized, it typically

simplicity

Surface tension force

Piezoelectric

returns rapidly to its

Operational

relatively small compared to

inkjet

normal position. This rapid

simplicity

actuator force

IJ01-IJ07,

return sucks in air through

Long refill time usually

IJ10-IJ14

the nozzle opening. The ink

dominates the total

IJ16, IJ20,

surface tension at the

repetition rate

IJ22-IJ45

nozzle then exerts a small

force restoring the

meniscus to a minimum area.

Shuttered

Ink to the nozzle chamber

High speed

Requires common ink pressure

IJ08, 1J13,

oscillating

is provided at a pressure

Low actuator energy,

oscillator

IJ15, 1J17

ink pressure

that oscillates at twice

as the actuator need

May not be suitable for

IJ18, IJ19, IJ21

the drop ejection

only open or close

pigmented inks

frequency. When a drop is

the shutter, instead

to be ejected, the shutter

of ejecting the ink

is opened for 3 half

drop

cycles: drop ejection,

actuator return, and

refill.

Refill

After the main actuator has

High speed, as the

Requires two independent

IJ09

actuator

ejected a drop a second

nozzle is actively

actuators per nozzle

(refill) actuator is

refilled

energized. The refill

actuator pushes ink into

the nozzle chamber. The

refill actuator returns

slowly, to prevent its

return from emptying the

chamber again.

Positive ink

The ink is held a slight

High refill rate,

Surface spill must be

Silverbrook, EP

pressure

positive pressure. After

therefore a high

prevented

0771 658 A2 and

the ink drop is ejected,

drop repetition rate

Highly hydrophobic print head

related patent

the nozzle chamber fills

is possible

surfaces are required

applications

quickly as surface tension

Alternative for:

and ink pressure both

IJ01-IJ07,

operate to refill the

IJ10-IJ14

nozzle.

IJ16, IJ20,

IJ22-IJ45

METHOD OF RESTRICTING BACK-FLOW THROUGH INLET

Inlet back-

flow

restriction

method

Description

Advantages

Disadvantages

Examples

Long inlet

The ink inlet channel to

Design simplicity

Restricts refill rate

Thermal inkjet

channel

the nozzle chamber is made

Operational

May result in a relatively

Piezoelectric

long and relatively narrow,

simplicity

large chip area

inkjet

relying on viscous drag to

Reduces crosstalk

Only partially effective

IJ42, IJ43

reduce inlet back-flow.

Positive ink

The ink is under a positive

Drop selection and

Requires a method (such as a

Silverbrook, EP

pressure

pressure, so that in the

separation forces

nozzle rim or effective

0771 658 A2 and

quiescent state some of the

can be reduced

hydrophobizing, or both) to

related patent

ink drop already protrudes

Fast refill time

prevent flooding of the

applications

from the nozzle.

ejection surface of the

Possible

This reduces the pressure

print head.

operation of

in the nozzle chamber which

the following:

is required to eject a

IJ01-IJ07,

certain volume of ink. The

IJ09-IJ12

reduction in chamber

IJ14, IJ16,

pressure results in a

IJ20, IJ22,

reduction in ink pushed out

IJ23-IJ34,

through the inlet.

IJ36-IJ41

IJ44

Baffle

One or more baffles are

The refill rate is

Design complexity

HP Thermal Ink

placed in the inlet ink

not as restricted as

May increase fabrication

Jet

flow. When the actuator is

the long inlet

complexity (e.g. Tektronix

Tektronix

energized, the rapid ink

method.

hot melt Piezoelectric print

piezoelectric

movement creates eddies

Reduces crosstalk

heads).

ink jet

which restrict the flow

through the inlet. The

slower refill process is

unrestricted, and does not

result in eddies.

Flexible flap

In this method recently

Significantly reduces

Not applicable to most inkjet

Canon

restricts

disclosed by Canon, the

back-flow for edge-

configurations

inlet

expanding actuator (bubble)

shooter thermal ink

Increased fabrication

pushes on a flexible flap

jet devices

complexity

that restricts the inlet.

Inelastic deformation of

polymer flap results in

creep over extended use

Inlet filter

A filter is located between

Additional advantage

Restricts refill rate

IJ04, IJ12,

the ink inlet and the

of ink filtration

May result in complex

IJ24, IJ27

nozzle chamber. The filter

Ink filter may be

construction

IJ29, IJ30

has a multitude of small

fabricated with no

holes or slots, restricting

additional process

ink flow. The filter also

steps

removes particles which may

block the nozzle.

Small inlet

The ink inlet channel to

Design simplicity

Restricts refill rate

IJ02, IJ37, IJ44

compared to

the nozzle chamber has a

May result in a relatively

nozzle

substantially smaller cross

large chip area

section than that of the

Only partially effective

nozzle , resulting in

easier ink egress out of

the nozzle than out of the

inlet.

Inlet shutter

A secondary actuator

Increases speed of

Requires separate refill

IJ09

controls the position of a

the ink-jet print

actuator and drive circuit

shutter, closing off the

head operation

ink inlet when the main

actuator is energized.

The inlet is

The method avoids the

Back-flow problem is

Requires careful design to

IJ01, IJ03,

located

problem of inlet back-flow

eliminated

minimize the negative

1J05, 1J06

behind the

by arranging the ink-

pressure behind the paddle

IJ07, IJ10,

ink-pushing

pushing surface of the

IJ11, IJ14

surface

actuator between the inlet

IJ16, IJ22,

and the nozzle.

IJ23, IJ25

IJ28, IJ31,

IJ32, IJ33

IJ34, IJ35,

IJ36, IJ39

IJ40, IJ41

Part of the

The actuator and a wall of

Significant

Small increase in fabrication

IJ07, IJ20,

actuator

the ink chamber are

reductions in back-

complexity

IJ26, IJ38

moves to shut

arranged so that the motion

flow can be achieved

off the inlet

of the actuator closes off

Compact designs

the inlet.

possible

Nozzle

In some configurations of

Ink back-flow problem

None related to ink back-flow

Silverbrook, EP

actuator does

ink jet, there is no

is eliminated

on actuation

0771 658 A2 and

not result in

expansion or movement of an

related patent

ink back-flow

actuator which may cause

applications

ink back-flow through the

Valve-jet

inlet.

Tone-jet

IJ08, IJ13,

IJ15, IJ17

IJ18, IJ19, IJ21

NOZZLE CLEARING METHOD

Nozzle

Clearing

method

Description

Advantages

Disadvantages

Examples

Normal nozzle

All of the nozzles are

No added complexity

May not be sufficient to

Most ink jet

firing

fired periodically, before

on the print head

displace dried ink

systems

the ink has a chance to

IJ01-IJ07,

dry. When not in use the

IJ09-IJ12

nozzles are sealed (capped)

IJ14, IJ16,

against air.

IJ20, IJ22

The nozzle firing is

IJ23-IJ34,

usually performed during a

IJ36-IJ45

special clearing cycle,

after first moving the

print head to a cleaning

station.

Extra power

In systems which heat the

Can be highly

Requires higher drive voltage

Silverbrook, EP

to ink heater

ink, but do not boil it

effective if the

for clearing

0771 658 A2 and

under normal situations,

heater is adjacent

May require larger drive

related patent

nozzle clearing can be

to the nozzle

transistors

applications

achieved by over-powering

the heater and boiling ink

at the nozzle.

Rapid

The actuator is fired in

Does not require

Effectiveness depends

May be used

succession of

rapid succession. In some

extra drive circuits

substantially upon the

with:

actuator

configurations, this may

on the print head

configuration of the inkjet

IJ01-IJ07,

pulses

cause heat build-up at the

Can be readily

nozzle

IJ09-IJ11

nozzle which boils the ink,

controlled and

IJ14, IJ16,

clearing the nozzle. In

initiated by digital

IJ20, IJ22

other situations, it may

logic

IJ23-IJ25,

cause sufficient vibrations

IJ27-IJ34

to dislodge clogged

IJ36-IJ45

nozzles.

Extra power

Where an actuator is not

A simple solution

Not suitable where there is a

May be used

to ink

normally driven to the

where applicable

hard limit to actuator

with:

pushing

limit of its motion, nozzle

movement

IJ03, IJ09,

actuator

clearing may be assisted by

IJ16, IJ20

providing an enhanced drive

IJ23, IJ24,

signal to the actuator.

IJ25, IJ27

IJ29, IJ30,

IJ31, IJ32

IJ39, IJ40,

IJ41, IJ42

IJ43, IJ44, IJ45

Acoustic

An ultrasonic wave is

A high nozzle

High implementation cost if

IJ08, IJ13,

resonance

applied to the ink chamber.

clearing capability

system does not already

IJ15, IJ17

This wave is of an

can be achieved

include an acoustic actuator

IJ18, IJ19, IJ21

appropriate amplitude and

May be implemented at

frequency to cause

very low cost in

sufficient force at the

systems which

nozzle to clear blockages.

already include

This is easiest to achieve

acoustic actuators

if the ultrasonic wave is

at a resonant frequency of

the ink cavity.

Nozzle

A microfabricated plate is

Can clear severely

Accurate mechanical alignment

Silverbrook, EP

clearing

pushed against the nozzles.

clogged nozzles

is required

0771 658 A2 and

plate

The plate has a post for

Moving parts are required

related patent

every nozzle. The array of

There is risk of damage to

applications

posts

the nozzles

Accurate fabrication is

required

Ink pressure

The pressure of the ink is

May be effective

Requires pressure pump or

May be used with

pulse

temporarily increased so

where other methods

other pressure actuator

all IJ series

that ink streams from all

cannot be used

Expensive

ink jets

of the nozzles. This may be

Wasteful of ink

used in conjunction with

actuator energizing.

Print head

A flexible ‘blade’ is wiped

Effective for planar

Difficult to use if print

Many ink jet

wiper

across the print head

print head surfaces

head surface is non-planar

systems

surface. The blade is

Low cost

or very fragile

usually fabricated from a

Requires mechanical parts

flexible polymer, e.g.

Blade can wear out in high

rubber or synthetic

volume print systems

elastomer.

Separate ink

A separate heater is

Can be effective

Fabrication complexity

Can be used with

boiling

provided at the nozzle

where other nozzle

many IJ series

heater

although the normal drop e-

clearing methods

ink jets

ection mechanism does not

cannot be used

require it. The heaters do

Can be implemented at

not require individual

no additional cost

drive circuits, as many

in some inkjet

nozzles can be cleared

configurations

simultaneously, and no

imaging is required.

NOZZLE PLATE CONSTRUCTION

Nozzle plate

construction

Description

Advantages

Disadvantages

Examples

Electroformed

A nozzle plate is

Fabrication

High temperatures and

Hewlett Packard

nickel

separately fabricated from

simplicity

pressures are required to

Thermal Inkjet

electroformed nickel, and

bond nozzle plate

bonded to the print head

Minimum thickness constraints

chip.

Differential thermal

expansion

Laser ablated

Individual nozzle holes are

No masks required

Each hole must be

Canon Bubblejet

or drilled

ablated by an intense UV

Can be quite fast

individually formed

1988 Sercel et

polymer

laser in a nozzle plate,

Some control over

Special equipment required

al., SPIE, Vol.

which is typically a

nozzle profile is

Slow where there are many

998 Excimer

polymer such as polyimide

possible

thousands of nozzles per

Beam

or polysulphone

Equipment required is

print head

Applications,

relatively low cost

May produce thin burrs at

pp. 76-83

exit holes

1993 Watanabe et

al., U.S. Pat. No.

5,208,604

Silicon

A separate nozzle plate is

High accuracy is

Two part construction

K. Bean, IEEE

micro-

micromachined from single

attainable

High cost

Transactions on

machined

crystal silicon, and bonded

Requires precision alignment

Electron

to the print head wafer.

Nozzles may be clogged by

Devices, Vol.

adhesive

ED-25, No. 10,

1978, pp 1185-1195

Xerox 1990

Hawkins et al.,

U.S. Pat. No.

4,899,181

Glass

Fine glass capillaries are

No expensive

Very small nozzle sizes are

1970 Zoltan U.S. Pat.

capillaries

drawn from glass tubing.

equipment required

difficult to form

No. 3,683,212

This method has been used

Simple to make single

Not suited for mass

for making individual

nozzles

production

nozzles, but is difficult

to use for bulk

manufacturing of print

heads with thousands of

nozzles.

Monolithic,

The nozzle plate is

High accuracy (<1 μm)

Requires sacrificial layer

Silverbrook, EP

surface

deposited as a layer using

Monolithic

under the nozzle plate to

0771 658 A2 and

micro-

standard VLSI deposition

Low cost

form the nozzle chamber

related patent

machined

techniques. Nozzles are

Existing processes

Surface may be fragile to the

applications

using VLSI

etched in the nozzle plate

can be used

touch

IJ01, IJ02,

lithographic

using VLSI lithography and

IJ04, IJ11

processes

etching.

IJ12, IJ17,

IJ18, IJ20

IJ22, IJ24,

IJ27, IJ28

IJ29, IJ30,

IJ31, IJ32

IJ33, IJ34,

IJ36, IJ37

IJ38, IJ39,

IJ40, IJ41

IJ42, IJ43, IJ44

Monolithic,

The nozzle plate is a

High accuracy (<1 μm)

Requires long etch times

IJ03, IJ05,

etched

buried etch stop in the

Monolithic

Requires a support wafer

IJ06, IJ07

through

wafer. Nozzle chambers are

Low cost

IJ08, IJ09,

substrate

etched in the front of the

No differential

IJ10, IJ13

wafer, and the wafer is

expansion

IJ14, IJ15,

thinned from the back side.

IJ16, IJ19

Nozzles are then etched in

IJ21, IJ23,

the etch stop layer.

IJ25, IJ26

No nozzle

Various methods have been

No nozzles to become

Difficult to control drop

Ricoh 1995

plate

tried to eliminate the

clogged

position accurately

Sekiya et al

nozzles entirely, to

Crosstalk problems

U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,413

prevent nozzle clogging.

1993 Hadimioglu

These include thermal

et al EUP

bubble mechanisms and

550,192

acoustic lens mechanisms

1993 Elrod et al

EUP 572,220

Trough

Each drop ejector has a

Reduced manufacturing

Drop firing direction is

IJ35

trough through which a

complexity

sensitive to wicking.

paddle moves. There is no

Monolithic

nozzle plate.

Nozzle slit

The elimination of nozzle

No nozzles to become

Difficult to control drop

1989 Saito et al

instead of

holes and replacement by a

clogged

position accurately

U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,068

individual

slit encompassing many

Crosstalk problems

nozzles

actuator positions reduces

nozzle clogging, but

increases crosstalk due to

ink surface waves

DROP EJECTION DIRECTION

Ejection

direction

Description

Advantages

Disadvantages

Examples

Edge

Ink flow is along the

Simple construction

Nozzles limited to edge

Canon Bubblejet

(‘edge

surface of the chip, and

No silicon etching

High resolution is difficult

1979 Endo et al

shooter’)

ink drops are ejected from

required

Fast color printing requires

GB patent

the chip edge.

Good heat sinking via

one print head per color

2,007,162

substrate

Xerox heater-in-

Mechanically strong

pit 1990

Ease of chip handing

Hawkins et al

U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,181

Tone-jet

Surface

Ink flow is along the

No bulk silicon

Maximum ink flow is severely

Hewlett-Packard

(‘roof

surface of the chip, and

etching required

restricted

TIJ 1982 Vaught

shooter’)

ink drops are ejected from

Silicon can make an

et al U.S. Pat. No.

the chip surface, normal to

effective heat sink

4,490,728

the plane of the chip.

Mechanical strength

IJ02, IJ11,

IJ12, IJ20

IJ22

Through chip,

Ink flow is through the

High ink flow

Requires bulk silicon etching

Silverbrook, EP

forward

chip, and ink drops are

Suitable for

0771 658 A2 and

(‘up

ejected from the front

pagewidth print

related patent

shooter’)

surface of the chip.

High nozzle packing

applications

density therefore

IJ04, IJ17,

low manufacturing

IJ18, IJ24

cost

IJ27-IJ45

Through chip,

Ink flow is through the

High ink flow

Requires wafer thinning

IJ01, IJ03,

reverse

chip, and ink drops are

Suitable for

Requires special handling

IJ05, IJ06

(‘down

ejected from the rear

pagewidth print

during manufacture

IJ07, IJ08,

shooter’)

surface of the chip.

High nozzle packing

IJ09, IJ10

density therefore

IJ13, IJ14,

low manufacturing

IJ15, IJ16

cost

IJ19, IJ21,

IJ23, IJ25

IJ26

Through

Ink flow is through the

Suitable for

Pagewidth print heads require

Epson Stylus

actuator

actuator, which is not

piezoelectric print

several thousand connections

Tektronix hot

fabricated as part of the

heads

to drive circuits

melt

same substrate as the drive

Cannot be manufactured in

piezoelectric

transistors.

standard CMOS fabs

ink jets

Complex assembly required

INK TYPE

Ink type

Description

Advantages

Disadvantages

Examples

Aqueous, dye

Water based ink which

Environmentally

Slow drying

Most existing

typically contains: water,

friendly

Corrosive

inkjets

dye, surfactant, humectant,

No odor

Bleeds on paper

All IJ series

and biocide.

May strikethrough

ink jets

Modern ink dyes have high

Cockles paper

Silverbrook, EP

water-fastness, light

0771 658 A2 and

fastness

related patent

applications

Aqueous,

Water based ink which

Environmentally

Slow drying

IJ02, IJ04,

pigment

typically contains: water,

friendly

Corrosive

IJ21, IJ26

pigment, surfactant,

No odor

Pigment may clog nozzles

IJ27, IJ30

humectant, and biocide.

Reduced bleed

Pigment may clog actuator

Silverbrook, EP

Pigments have an advantage

Reduced wicking

mechanisms

0771 658 A2 and

in reduced bleed, wicking

Reduced strikethrough

Cockles paper

related patent

and strikethrough.

applications

Piezoelectric

ink-jets

Thermal ink jets

(with

significant

restrictions)

Methyl Ethyl

MEK is a highly volatile

Very fast drying

Odorous

All IJ series

Ketone (MEK)

solvent used for industrial

Prints on various

Flammable

ink jets

printing on difficult

substrates such as

surfaces such as aluminum

metals and plastics

cans.

Alcohol

Alcohol based inks can be

Fast drying

Slight odor

All IJ series

(ethanol, 2-

used where the printer must

Operates at sub-

Flammable

ink jets

butanol, and

operate at temperatures

freezing

others)

below the freezing point of

temperatures

water. An example of this

Reduced paper cockle

is in-camera consumer

Low cost

photographic printing.

Phase change

The ink is solid at room

No drying time-ink

High viscosity

Tektronix hot

(hot melt)

temperature, and is melted

instantly freezes on

Printed ink typically has a

melt

in the print head before

the print medium

‘waxy’ feel

piezoelectric

jetting. Hot melt inks are

Almost any print

Printed pages may ‘block’

ink jets

usually wax based, with a

medium can be used

Ink temperature may be above

1989 Nowak U.S. Pat. No.

melting point around 80° C.

No paper cockle

the curie point of permanent

4,820,346

After jetting the ink

occurs

magnets

All IJ series

freezes almost instantly

No wicking occurs

Ink heaters consume power

ink jets

upon contacting the print

No bleed occurs

Long warm-up time

medium or a transfer

No strikethrough

roller.

occurs

Oil

Oil based inks are

High solubility

High viscosity: this is a

All IJ series

extensively used in offset

medium for some dyes

significant limitation for

ink jets

printing. They have

Does not cockle paper

use in inkjets, which

advantages in improved

Does not wick through

usually require a low

characteristics on paper

paper

viscosity. Some short chain

(especially no wicking or

and multi-branched oils have

cockle). Oil soluble dies

a sufficiently low

and pigments are required.

viscosity.

Slow drying

Microemulsion

A microemulsion is a

Stops ink bleed

Viscosity higher than water

All IJ series

stable, self forming

High dye solubility

Cost is slightly higher than

ink jets

emulsion of oil, water, and

Water, oil, and

water based ink

surfactant. The

amphiphilic soluble

High surfactant concentration

characteristic drop size is

dies can be used

required (around 5%)

less than 100 nm, and is

Can stabilize pigment

determined by the preferred

suspensions

curvature of the

surfactant.

Ink Jet Printing

A large number of new forms of ink jet printers have been developed to facilitate alternative ink jet technologies for the image processing and data distribution system. Various combinations of ink jet devices can be included in printer devices incorporated as part of the present invention. Australian Provisional Patent Applications relating to these ink jets which are specifically incorporated by cross reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

Australian

U.S. Pat. No.

Pro-

Patent

visional

Application

Number

Filing Date

Title

and Filing Date

PO8066

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,227,652

Apparatus (IJ01)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8072

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,213,588

Apparatus (IJ02)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8040

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,213,589

Apparatus (IJ03)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8071

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,231,163

Apparatus (IJ04)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8047

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,247,795

Apparatus (IJ05)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8035

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,394,581

Apparatus (IJ06)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8044

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,244,691

Apparatus (IJ07)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8063

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,257,704

Apparatus (IJ08)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8057

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,416,168

Apparatus (IJ09)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8056

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,220,694

Apparatus (IJ10)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8069

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,257,705

Apparatus (IJ11)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8049

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,247,794

Apparatus (IJ12)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8036

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,234,610

Apparatus (IJ13)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8048

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,247,793

Apparatus (IJ14)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8070

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,264,306

Apparatus (IJ15)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8067

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,241,342

Apparatus (IJ16)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8001

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,247,792

Apparatus (IJ17)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8038

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,264,307

Apparatus (IJ18)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8033

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,254,220

Apparatus (IJ19)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8002

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,234,611

Apparatus (IJ20)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8068

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,302,528

Apparatus (IJ21)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8062

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,283,582

Apparatus (IJ22)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8034

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,239,821

Apparatus (IJ23)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8039

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,338,547

Apparatus (IJ24)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8041

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,247,796

Apparatus (IJ25)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8004

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

09/113,122

Apparatus (IJ26)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8037

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,390,603

Apparatus (IJ27)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8043

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,362,843

Apparatus (IJ28)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8042

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,293,653

Apparatus (IJ29)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8064

Jul. 15, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,312,107

Apparatus (IJ30)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9389

Sep. 23, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,227,653

Apparatus (IJ31)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9391

Sep. 23, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,234,609

Apparatus (IJ32)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0888

Dec. 12, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,238,040

Apparatus (IJ33)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0891

Dec. 12, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,188,415

Apparatus (IJ34)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0890

Dec. 12, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,227,654

Apparatus (IJ35)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0873

Dec. 12, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,209,989

Apparatus (IJ36)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0993

Dec. 12, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,247,791

Apparatus (IJ37)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0890

Dec. 12, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,336,710

Apparatus (IJ38)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP1398

Jan. 19, 1998

Image Creation Method and

6,217,153

Apparatus (IJ39)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP2592

Mar. 25, 1998

Image Creation Method and

6,416,167

Apparatus (IJ40)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP2593

Mar. 25, 1998

Image Creation Method and

6,243,113

Apparatus (IJ41)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP3991

Jun. 9, 1998

Image Creation Method and

6,283,581

Apparatus (IJ42)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP3987

Jun. 9, 1998

Image Creation Method and

6,247,790

Apparatus (IJ43)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP3985

Jun. 9, 1998

Image Creation Method and

6,260,953

Apparatus (IJ44)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP3983

Jun. 9, 1998

Image Creation Method and

6,267,469

Apparatus (IJ45)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

Ink Jet Manufacturing

Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductor fabrication techniques in the construction of large arrays of ink jet printers. Suitable manufacturing techniques are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

Australian

U.S. Pat. No./Patent

Provisional

Filing

Application and Filing

Number

Date

Title

Date

PO7935

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,224,780

Creation Apparatus (IJM01)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7936

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,235,212

Creation Apparatus (IJM02)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7937

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,280,643

Creation Apparatus (IJM03)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8061

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,284,147

Creation Apparatus (IJM04)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8054

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,214,244

Creation Apparatus (IJM05)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8065

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,071,750

Creation Apparatus (IJM06)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8055

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,267,905

Creation Apparatus (IJM07)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8053

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,251,298

Creation Apparatus (IJM08)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8078

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,258,285

Creation Apparatus (IJM09)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7933

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,225,138

Creation Apparatus (IJM10)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7950

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,241,904

Creation Apparatus (IJM11)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7949

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,299,786

Creation Apparatus (IJM12)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8060

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

09/113,124

Creation Apparatus (IJM13)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8059

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,231,773

Creation Apparatus (IJM14)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8073

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,190,931

Creation Apparatus (IJM15)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8076

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,248,249

Creation Apparatus (IJM16)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8075

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,290,862

Creation Apparatus (IJM17)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8079

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,241,906

Creation Apparatus (IJM18)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8050

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

09/113,116

Creation Apparatus (IJM19)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8052

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,241,905

Creation Apparatus (IJM20)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7948

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,451,216

Creation Apparatus (IJM21)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7951

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,231,772

Creation Apparatus (IJM22)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8074

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,274,056

Creation Apparatus (IJM23)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7941

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,290,861

Creation Apparatus (IJM24)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8077

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,248,248

Creation Apparatus (IJM25)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8058

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,306,671

Creation Apparatus (IJM26)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8051

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,331,258

Creation Apparatus (IJM27)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8045

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,110,754

Creation Apparatus (IJM28)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7952

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,294,101

Creation Apparatus (IJM29)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8046

Jul. 15, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,416,679

Creation Apparatus (IJM30)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8503

Aug. 11, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,264,849

Creation Apparatus (IJM30a)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9390

Sep. 23, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,254,793

Creation Apparatus (IJM31)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9392

Sep. 23, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,235,211

Creation Apparatus (IJM32)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0889

Dec. 12, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,235,211

Creation Apparatus (IJM35)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0887

Dec. 12, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,264,850

Creation Apparatus (IJM36)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0882

Dec. 12, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,258,284

Creation Apparatus (IJM37)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0874

Dec. 12, 1997

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,258,284

Creation Apparatus (IJM38)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP1396

Jan. 19, 1998

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,228,668

Creation Apparatus (IJM39)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP2591

Mar. 25, 1998

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,180,427

Creation Apparatus (IJM41)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP3989

Jun. 9, 1998

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,171,875

Creation Apparatus (IJM40)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP3990

Jun. 9, 1998

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,267,904

Creation Apparatus (IJM42)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP3986

Jun. 9, 1998

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,245,247

Creation Apparatus (IJM43)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP3984

Jun. 9, 1998

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,245,247

Creation Apparatus (IJM44)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP3982

Jun. 9, 1998

A Method of Manufacture of an Image

6,231,148

Creation Apparatus (IJM45)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

Fluid Supply

Further, the present application may utilize an ink delivery system to the ink jet head. Delivery systems relating to the supply of ink to a series of ink jet nozzles are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications, the disclosure of which are hereby incorporated by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

Austra-

U.S. Pat. No./

ian

Patent

Pro-

Application

visional

Filing

and

Number

Date

Title

Filing Date

PO8003

Jul. 15, 1997

Supply Method and Apparatus

6,350,023

(F1)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8005

Jul. 15, 1997

Supply Method and Apparatus

6,318,849

(F2)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9404

Sep. 23, 1997

A Device and Method (F3)

09/113,101

(Jul. 10, 1998)

MEMS Technology

Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductor microelectromechanical techniques in the construction of large arrays of ink jet printers. Suitable microelectromechanical techniques are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

U.S. Pat. No./

Australian

Patent

Provisional

Application and

Number

Filing Date

Title

Filing Date

PO7943

Jul. 15, 1997

A device (MEMS01)

PO8006

Jul. 15, 1997

A device (MEMS02)

6,087,638

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8007

Jul. 15, 1997

A device (MEMS03)

09/113,093

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8008

Jul. 15, 1997

A device (MEMS04)

6,340,222

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8010

Jul. 15, 1997

A device (MEMS05)

6,041,600

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8011

Jul. 15, 1997

A device (MEMS06)

6,299,300

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7947

Jul. 15, 1997

A device (MEMS07)

6,067,71997

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7945

Jul. 15, 1997

A device (MEMS08)

09/113,081

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7944

Jul. 15, 1997

A device (MEMS09)

6,286,935

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7946

Jul. 15, 1997

A device (MEMS10)

6,044,646

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9393

Sep. 23, 1997

A Device and Method

09/113,065

(MEMS11)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0875

Dec. 12, 1997

A Device (MEMS12)

09/113,078

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0894

Dec. 12, 1997

A Device and Method

09/113,075

(MEMS13)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

IR Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of a disposable camera system such as those described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

Australian

U.S. Pat. No./Patent

Provisional

Application and Filing

Number

Filing Date

Title

Date

PP0895

Dec. 12, 1997

An Image Creation Method and Apparatus

6,231,148

(IR01)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0870

Dec. 12, 1997

A Device and Method (IR02)

09/113,106

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0869

Dec. 12, 1997

A Device and Method (IR04)

6,293,658

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0887

Dec. 12, 1997

Image Creation Method and

09/113,104

Apparatus (IR05)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0885

Dec. 12, 1997

An Image Production System

6,238,033

(IR06)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0884

Dec. 12, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,312,070

Apparatus (IR10)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0886

Dec. 12, 1997

Image Creation Method and

6,238,111

Apparatus (IR12)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0871

Dec. 12, 1997

A Device and Method (IR13)

09/113,086

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0876

Dec. 12, 1997

An Image Processing Method

09/113,094

and Apparatus (IR14)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0877

Dec. 12, 1997

A Device and Method (IR16)

6,378,970

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0878

Dec. 12, 1997

A Device and Method (IR17)

6,196,739

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0879

Dec. 12, 1997

A Device and Method (IR18)

09/112,774

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0883

Dec. 12, 1997

A Device and Method (IR19)

6,270,182

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0880

Dec. 12, 1997

A Device and Method (IR20)

6,152,619

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0881

Dec. 12, 1997

A Device and Method (IR21)

09/113,092

(Jul. 10, 1998)

DotCard Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of a data distribution system such as that described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

Austra-

U.S. Pat. No./

lian

Patent

Pro-

Application

visional

Filing

and

Number

Date

Title

Filing Date

PP2370

Mar. 16, 1998

Data Processing Method and

09/112,781

Apparatus (Dot01)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP2371

Mar. 16, 1998

Data Processing Method and

09/113,052

Apparatus (Dot02)

(Jul. 10, 1998)

Artcam Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of camera and data processing techniques such as an Artcam type device as described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.